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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The 2011 Hurricane Season for the Atlantic and East Pacific Basins officially ends today. NOAA's predictions turn out to be very accurate once again.

Active Atlantic (Above Average)

In the Atlantic, there were a total of 19 named storms, the third highest since 1851, from which 7 became hurricanes. Of those, 3 were major hurricanes. Irene was the lone hurricane to hit the United States in 2011, and the
first one to do so since Ike struck southeast Texas in 2008. Irene was
also the most significant tropical cyclone to strike the Northeast
since Hurricane Bob in 1991.

Atlantic Basin

Forecast Parameter and 1950-2000
Climatology (in parentheses)

NOAA 2011
Prediction

2011
Actual Results

Named Storms (NS) (9.6)

12-18

19

Hurricanes (H) (5.9)

6-10

7

Major Hurricanes (MH) (2.3)

3-6

3

East Pacific (Above Average Hurricanes)

The East Pacific was less active than the Atlantic as predicted with a total of 11 named storms, well within the predicted range, from which 10 became hurricanes with 6 becoming major hurricanes. The number and strength of the hurricanes was higher than predicted.

East Pacific

Forecast Parameter and 1950-2000
Climatology (in parentheses)

NOAA 2011
Prediction

2011
Actual Results

Named Storms (NS) (9.6)

9-15

11

Hurricanes (H) (5.9)

5-8

10

Major Hurricanes (MH) (2.3)

1-3

6

Keeping a Watchful Eye

As we have in past years, we monitored the major storms and published updated information on the impact of the tropical weather in both the Atlantic and Pacific regions. We introduced a new static page, Hurricane Zone, which served as an index to all the active storms with three storms being active simultaneously at the peak of the season. The static page also is a clearing house for past information about hurricane seasons as well as predictions and preparedness information from past and present seasons.

Cruise lines monitored all the storms and altered itineraries on several occasions. By far the most disruptive storm was Irene since it lingered up the East Coast of the United States and made landfall. No storms in the Pacific made landfall this year.

We welcome your feedback about the format used for Hurricane Zone and the individual blog posts. Our intention is to keep our readers updated as best we can on the progress and impact of the tropical storms. We include links which can provide up-to-the-minute updates directly from the NHC, cruise lines, and other sources which can be used between updates.

“Although the 2011 hurricane season has ended, our need to prepare
for disasters hasn't,” said Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency. “Being prepared for all kinds of hazards,
from hurricanes to blizzards to tornadoes, is a year-round activity. We
encourage all members of the team, especially the public, to continue
to prepare for emergencies by staying informed of forecasted weather
events, making an emergency plan, and building your emergency
preparedness kit. Visit Ready.gov to learn more.”

NOAA will issue its initial outlook for the 2012 hurricane season
in May just prior to the official start of the season on June 1. We will start our coverage with the 2012 Hurricane Preparedness Week.

Friday, November 25, 2011

A tragic accident, during a ship-sponsored shore excursion, has prompted a federal and local investigation and put the popular water excursion on hold.

A 60 year old female passenger was parasailing in tandem with her 34 year old daughter in St. Thomas, USVI, when she fell to her death. Her daughter, who was also injured, is recovering in a local hospital.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, strong gusts of winds in the area may have contributed to the accident. The local parasail company has suspended operations voluntarily until the investigation is concluded.

The passengers involved were sailing on Celebrity Eclipse. Both Celebrity Cruises and parent company, Royal Caribbean, suspended all parasailing shore excursions in the Caribbean following the accident. Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines followed suit, cancelling those excursions in St. Thomas pending the outcome of the investigation. All lines took this action "in the abundance of caution".

Thursday, November 24, 2011

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is here already.
Where did 2011 go? As has become my tradition, I'd like to share with
you some of the things that I'm thankful for and highlight some of my
adventures this year.

I hope that you, your family, and friends have plenty to be thankful for this holiday season.
I know that I have plenty of things to be thankful for, including my
health, family, and friends and the ability to share my love of cruising
with all of you. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to explore new
worlds with family and friends again this year.

While this has been another tough economic year, it appears that the cruise industry has weathered the storm once again.

The value of cruising has never been stronger. Even
in these tough times, more and more families have taken to the seas.
Indications are that the record discounts offered the past two years
will be coming to an end. In the meantime those discounts have made
cruising an even better value, and consequently we have seen a surge in
first-time cruisers.

The photos above are from some of our cruises this year. The highlight of the year was our Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruise on Star Princess. We spent two nights in Rome before the cruise and one additional night after returning to Rome by train from Venice, Italy. If you can't guess where I am in the picture above, I'm in Fira, Santorini, Greece. Our ship can be seen in the background. Learn more about our cruise in our article: Diary of Cruise with Chris to Greek Isles

Cruises Inc. and Cruise One held the 2011 National Conference on Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas which just ended its inaugural season sailing to the Eastern and Western Caribbean on alternate weeks. We have written several articles on the Allure and posted many photos on our Facebook Fan Page.

We wonder what the Pilgrims, who came to the New World in Tall Ships,
would think about the Allure of the Seas. Their ships measured 110
feet, held 150 passengers at most, and took months to cross the
Atlantic. The Allure is more than 10 times that length (1182 feet),
holds almost 8000 passengers and crew, and took just a couple weeks to
cross the Atlantic.

Thank you for making our blog column a part of your lives in 2011.
I hope that the information we share helps you to dream about future
cruises of your own. I'd be honored to help you plan those trips. I
have the best job in the world - helping make dreams come true. For
that, I'm truly thankful.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

We would like to advise you of widespread activity of dengue fever reportedthroughout the Caribbean region, with the Bahamas reporting the greatestactivity over the past two months. Dengue is transmitted through mosquitoswhich mainly bite during daytime hours and is not transmitted from person toperson. Health authorities in the Bahamas have instituted control measuressuch as fogging and spraying to reduce mosquito breeding sites on the islandsincluding Princess Cays located on Eleuthera Island, Bahamas. Prevention is Best Measure

There is no vaccine available against dengue, and there are no specific medications to treat a dengue infection. This makes prevention the most important step.

Travelers can reduce their risk of infection with dengue fever by protecting themselves from mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that spread dengue usually bite at dusk and dawn but may bite at any time during the day, especially indoors, in shady areas, or when the weather is cloudy.
Travelers should follow the steps below to protect themselves from mosquito bites:

When outdoors or in a building that is not well screened, use insect
repellent on uncovered skin. If sunscreen is needed, apply before
applying insect repellent.

Look for a repellent that contains one of the following active
ingredients: DEET, picaridin (KBR 3023), Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus/PMD, or
IR3535. Always follow the instructions on the label when you use the
repellent.

In general, repellents protect longer against mosquito bites when they
have a higher concentration (percentage) of any of these active
ingredients. However, concentrations above 50% do not offer a marked
increase in protection time. Products with less than 10% of an active
ingredient may offer only limited protection, often no longer than 1-2
hours.

It is late in the Atlantic and Pacific Hurricane Seasons but Mother Nature isn't paying attention to the calendar. NASA's GOES-13 satellite was keeping forecasters informed about developing
lows like System 90E in the eastern Pacific and another low pressure
area in the Atlantic.

90E has become Tropical Storm Kenneth and it is anticipated that it will become a hurricane shortly.

In this image ... NOAA's GOES-13 satellite caught System
90E developing in the eastern Pacific (left) and another tropical low in
the Atlantic (right) on Nov. 18, 2011 at 1145 UTC (7:45 a.m. EST). The
low called System 90E appeared to be getting organized on the GOES
infrared imagery with the largest amount of clouds north and east of the
low's center of circulation. The cold front that brought tornadoes to
the southeastern U.S. is seen to the west of the Atlantic Low.Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...
NONE.
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 90 MPH...150 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. KENNETH IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
HURRICANE WIND SCALE. CONTINUED WEAKENING IS EXPECTED DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS...AND KENNETH IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN TO A TROPICAL
STORM ON THURSDAY.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Holland America has announced that Veendam won't be returning to Bermuda for the 2013 summer season.

"We will continue to call in Hamilton
occasionally on other itineraries," said the line in a statement. "The
2012 season will mark three years of Bermuda cruising roundtrip from New
York and in 2013 other destinations are being considered as part of our
overall global deployment."

This announcement comes just weeks after Carnival announced that Carnival Pride would be redeployed in the Eastern Caribbean instead of Bermuda for the 2012 Summer season. Carnival Pride will still sail one voyage to Bermuda.

While The Veendam and Pride are pulling out, that doesn't mean that there won't be ships in Bermuda or that the region is being abandoned by the cruise lines. Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises will offer regular Bermuda sailings in 2012, and Norwegian has already announced that its new Norwegian Breakaway will debut in spring 2013 with a series of Bermuda cruises.

Bermuda is a great cruise destination. Most cruises to Bermuda originate from New York and typically spend two or three days docked in one of Bermuda's ports of call so that you can explore the country both day and night taking in the complete atmosphere of the island country. The people are very friendly there and there is much to do. It is quite easy to explore on your own by using public transportation including buses and ferries.For those that have never cruised before, Bermuda is a great destination to do since there is a minimal amount of actual sailing. You can experience life onboard the ship and use the ship as your floating hotel while in Bermuda, saving on food and entertainment costs for example.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

In Spring 2012, new alcoholic beverage rules take effect for Royal Caribbean ships sailing from International ports (South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand).

Currently, 18- to 20-year-old passengers cruising in the
aforementioned regions are allowed to purchase alcohol onboard -- as long as their
parents sign a waiver. Under the new policy, parents will no longer be
required to sign the waver.

The minimum drinking age on Royal Caribbean ships sailing from North America will remain at 21.

RCI says that the change is to "better accommodate the cultural norms in the regions of the world where Royal Caribbean ships sail."

This change brings Royal Caribbean ships in line with its competitors. The onboard drinking ages generally reflect laws in the
region in which the ship is sailing. For instance, the minimum drinking
age for Costa Cruises is 18 for any vessel leaving from a
non-U.S. port and 21 for any cruise leaving from the United States. Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines and others have similar policies.

While the policy gets parents off the hook for signing a waiver - it shouldn't get them off the hook for the actions of their children. The last thing we want to be writing about in future columns would be any accident connected with the change in this policy. Please drink responsibly and make sure everyone in your party, regardless of age, does so also.

Friday, November 11, 2011

First and foremost, today is the annual observance of Veteran's Day, a
day set aside to honor the nation's veterans. The image in this article was taken at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France, on
one of our cruises several years ago. The image of row after row of
crosses will never leave me.

Every day we go about our business, and I suspect most of us take our
freedom for granted. It isn't because we aren't caring people, but
instead perhaps because we just don't think about it. So I ask you
today to take a moment to reflect on the veterans, living and deceased,
for without whose service we wouldn't be the free nation we are today.

Veterans Share Their Special Day

One year ago today there were two other events superimposed on Veteran's Day. We wrote about Carnival Splendor, which was towed into San Diego following a fire onboard. The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy had come to their rescue bringing provisions. That story was about our Armed Forces in action for a peaceful purpose.

We also wrote about Allure of the Seas which was making its way amidst water cannons and cheering crowds into its new home port in Florida. Our Nation's flag was unfurled as a salute to the new vessel as the ceremonies combined Veteran's Day and the Allure's arrival in a musical tribute.

This year, we scanned the news wire and found out that businesses around the globe are offering 11-11-11 deals and discounts to celebrate the serendipity of what some are calling "The Luckiest Calendar Numbers in a Century."

In numerology, 11 is considered a "Master Number" and those who have 11
in their birth date are said to be endowed with special gifts of
leadership and inspiration, with an overwhelming desire to achieve
something extraordinary. Eleven has always been considered lucky in Las Vegas with 11 being a winning dice combination in the game of craps and drawing an 11 in blackjack is a very lucky hand since it can lead to a 21 which is the best hand.

Those words are spoken when the folded
U.S. Flag is presented to the family at a military funeral ceremony.
Today let us all echo those words and say thank you. There are many
ways to become involved and say thank you in a very meaningful way.
Cruise lines offer discounts to military, including veterans. Local
organizations gather goodies to send to the troops currently serving
overseas. Volunteers help out at local VA Hospitals across the
nation. If you want to get involved personally, check out the VA Voluntary Service website for some ideas.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

NOAA is predicting a major Bering Sea Storm bearing down on Western
Alaska with a mix of strong winds, high seas, blizzard conditions and
major coastal flooding.
Warnings and forecasts for Western and Northwest Alaska can be found here. Warnings and forecasts for the Aleutian & Pribilof Islands here and Southwest Alaska can be found here.
An additional resource for total water level estimations for some western Alaska communities can be found here.
(11/08/11)

A powerful and extremely dangerous storm of near-record magnitude is now
impacting western Alaska. Impacts will spread northwest and continue
through Thursday in some communities. Coastal Flood and Blizzard
Warnings are in effect for most of the Alaska’s west and northwest
coasts. At 3:00 a.m. EST (11:00 p.m. AKST) the center of the low
pressure system was located about 100 miles west of St. Lawrence Island
in the Bering Sea, with a minimum central pressure of 943 mb (27.85
inches). This is one of the deepest systems in recent history to move
through the Bering Sea.
The storm is expected to move north-northeast this morning, as
conditions worsen, creating a life-threatening situation for a large
portion of the western Alaska coast today, especially in the Seward
Peninsula near Nome, which is getting hit hard by blizzard conditions
and 70 mph winds, along with 8 foot coastal storm surge.

Lack of Sea Ice Problematic

Arctic sea ice this year reached the second-lowest coverage since satellite records began in 1979, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. While powerful storms in the North Pacific and Bering Sea are common for this time of year, this storm is unusual because it is going farther north. Also, without the cover of sea ice, Alaska's coast will feel the full brunt of the 6 to 9 foot storm surge.

Be Prepared for

Winter Storms &
Extreme Cold

Federal, state and local agencies were making emergency preparations in advance of the storm.

1100 PM AST FRI NOV 11 2011
...SEAN HAS MERGED WITH A COLD FRONT...THIS IS THE LAST
ADVISORY...

The latest tropical storm that we are monitoring reminds us that the 2011 Hurricane Season doesn't officially end until the end of this month. A subtropical storm formed 445 miles southwest of Bermuda in the early morning hours today. It has strengthened into Tropical Storm Sean.

Cruise lines
are monitoring the tropical storms for potential impact to this
week's cruises. There is no impact to cruises at this time.

Carnival Pride was delayed getting into Baltimore due to bad weather. Embarkation for Carnival Pride's November 6 Bermuda cruise took place on November 7 from 9 a.m. to noon. The ship was scheduled to arrive in King's Wharf, Bermuda, at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and spend two nights in port. The revised itinerary has the ship arriving Wednesday at 1 p.m. and departing Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...
NONE.
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.
INTERESTS IN BERMUDA SHOULD MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THE BERMUDA
WEATHER SERVICE.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. THE POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE ON
SATURDAY.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

As cruise passengers head off to dinner tonight, cabin stewards were busy placing cards on pillows to remind guests to change their clocks before retiring to bed. Daylight Savings Time (DST) ends tonight and Standard Time (ST) begins.

End of Daylight Savings Time

Standard time is the result of synchronizing clocks in different geographical locations within a time zone to the same time rather than using the local meridian as in local mean time or solar time.
It isn't unusual for ship's clocks to change during a cruise. In fact, on some longer cruises, clock changes may occur several times as the ship crosses time zones. Often, the ship won't change times but will remain on "ship time".

Before departing the ship to explore your next port, be sure that your watch is set to the same time as the ship, so that you aren't waving to your ship from shore as it sails away.

While this may be obvious to most readers, it can be easily overlooked as you gather you things and rush off to begin exploring your latest port of call. Sleep well tonight for tomorrow is another day of adventure at sea or back on land.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Promotion from Carnival Allows Military Personnel to Book Up to Three ‘Fun Ship’ Staterooms at Discounted Rates

In recognition of Veteran’s Day, Carnival Cruise Lines is offering a
promotion throughout the month of November allowing active and retired
U.S. and Canadian military personnel to book up to three “Fun Ship”
staterooms at discounted rates for themselves and their friends and
family members.

Carnival Cruise Lines offers Military Rates all the time, but those are normally restricted to one cabin. Now is the time to take advantage of this special promotion and bring family and friends with you on your cruise vacation.

Reservations must be made between November 1-30,
2011, to qualify for this special offer, which is available in
conjunction with a variety of three- to eight-day “Fun Ship” departures
through April 30, 2013, including voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean,
Mexico and Alaska.

Rates start at $229 per person for three-day
cruises; $259 per person for four-day cruises; $299 per person for
five-day voyages; $399 per person for six-day departures; $449 per
person for seven-day voyages; and $579 per person for eight-day
sailings.

Voyages operate from a wide variety of convenient North American homeports along the east and west coasts and Gulf of Mexico.

The
promotion is valid for individual bookings only. Military personnel
must provide proof of service. Eligible military personnel must sail to
take advantage of this offer. Certain other restrictions apply.

We salute all Veterans and their Families and would be honored to help plan your cruise vacation. Thank you for your service and sacrifice for your country.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated. It was later designated as a National Monument in 1924, restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986, and now for her 125th, is undergoing a renovation of the 125 year old pedestal and the 200 year old fort base from which the statue rises.

A gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States... The Statue of Liberty is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.

The 1886 dedication was attended by President Grover Cleveland, who
proclaimed on that day that 'Liberty' would "magnify France beyond the
seas." The dedication was followed by a fireworks display and New York
City's first ever 'Ticker Tape' parade.

Honor History, Envision the Future

The National Park Service theme for the 125th anniversary events was 'Honor History, Envision the Future.'
The program for the day was jointly sponsored by the National Park
Service and their proud partners at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis
Island Foundation, the Coca-Cola Company and Macy's.

The goal of the celebration was to
re-create, to the greatest extent possible, the actual program that
guided that day's events 125 years ago. The day included a
naturalization ceremony, musical performances, a gun salute, a U.S. Coast
Guard sponsored Flotilla, FDNY Fireboat water spout display, a
presentation of "Gifts of Friendship" to a representative of the French
government, and the ceremonial 'lighting' of the new 'torch webcam' that
will showcase views of NY Harbor and the Statue from the vantage point
of Lady Liberty's torch. Read more about the day's events on the NPS website.

Several
remarkable views will be just a touch of a mouse away. On clear days,
three cameras will provide unobstructed panoramas and live views of the
famed New York City skyline, along with a front row seat to watch views
of the majestic Hudson River and ships in New York Harbor. And that's
just looking out. The two remaining cameras provide truly unique views.
One provides a ultra wide-angle interactive view of the famed golden
torch; and the final camera looks downward.

Statue of Liberty National Monument to Remain OPEN During Renovation
Plans for the 2011-2012 restoration of Lady Liberty

View from a Cruise Ship

The Statue of Liberty can be seen from several vantage points around the New York / New Jersey shores or islands. Each of these views are magnificent, but in my mind, nothing is more magnificent than sailing into New York harbor at sunrise and seeing the Statue of Liberty as your cruise ship approaches. Imagine you were one of the immigrants who had left everything, including family, to venture to the new world for a new life, and behold you saw Lady Liberty standing in your path. It would take your breath away, as it should for everyone that understands what she stands for.

We have been fortunate to sail into and out of New York or New Jersey cruise ports on several occasions, but we won't forget the Trans-Atlantic in 2000 where not only did we see the Statue of Liberty as we sailed in from Europe, but the twin towers of The World Trade Center. Little did we know that would be our last cruise where we'd see those towers.

There are several options for cruising into or out of New York / New Jersey cruise ports. We highly recommend you add that to your bucket list. We'd be happy to discuss the various options with you when you are ready to plan.